Kildeer Rest otter boy

the cold wetness of her nose nudging him snapped the boy back to reality, nearly losing himself to sorrow. he flinches away like he were wounded, back hunched as he returned to the familiar work of herb searching. 

he only pauses again to speak. thank you. her sincerity wasn't lost on him. her gaze warm and gentle — for a moment it was even familiar. it gave him a brief comfort, but anger returned to him alongside the guilt that came with continuing to reject her further attempts at connection. a quiet lingers between them. its unbearable.

it's nothing you need worry about, though. the silence is broken through a snort, white breath billowing from the boy's lips. he stepped away once he'd dug far enough for her to gather.